Variant 1 Problems!

[mb3k]

I just finished an install on my 05 sedan but ran into some weird quirks.

The fronts are slammed as far as they can go but I'm still getting a 2-finger-gap. There was the stock break line bracket that I cut so it was equal height to the coilover bracket (see the red arrow in the picture), I could then lower the ring to the stainless steel bracket of the coilover... but again I still get a 2-finger-gap from tire to fender. I shouldn't have to cut/shave off the top of the coilover bracket (red arrow to the height of the purple arrow) to lower about 1/4" more. Something must be really weird. Any help would be appreciated.

Now for the rears, they are as high as they can go and I'm getting a 1-finger-gap. I'm not complaining, but it seems odd to me that cranked all the way up I'm getting a 1-finger-gap (25" from ground to fender). Of course if I slam the rears, they tuck pretty far in.

It's just very odd that I have to slam the fronts and raise the rears to get an acceptable ride height. Any input?

[warlord]

Did you reuse your oem top perches or did you use the purple ones that came with the KW's. That would be the difference in ride height.

[mb3k]

Everything that came with the KW's were installed. OEM stoppers were removed.
What you see in the photo plus the rear adjustment "bottom hats" were included.

[warlord]

What if you deleted the purple top mount and just went with the oem mount.
That's a 1" drop right there. I don't see how you could have both installed at the same time anyway.

[mb3k]

That's very odd if I had to do that - it would mean KW didn't design it right for the Mazda 3. I know there's a bunch of KW users out there, anyone care to chime in?

You can see that from the pic, the KW V1's don't have their own strut mount plate... so it seems like just using the purple hat and removing the OEM strut mount is out of the question. The rears I have no clue why they sit so low!? Very very frustrated with this install!

[marteau]

I just need info here

is the purple part have bearing in? if yes

do you reuse the Oem baering (#9 in picture) if yes remove this part and you will be ok

[marteau]

is your front top mount look like that

[cali_axela]

^ yeah, that. You have to split the OEM top mount into two pieces, 9 and 10, and only re-use the 10 part w/ the KW replacement for 9. If you reused the whole 9+10 OEM assembly (which really doesn't seem like something you can easily take apart, but you can) then that would be the problem for sure.

[mb3k]

Ahh, yes, I think that solves the fronts! Very big thanks.

Now the rears I'm still puzzled about

[cali_axela]

KW rears drop low no matter what, that's normal. Both installs I've seen were the same, even all the way up the rear is pretty low.

[marteau]

and now post pic off your ride

[mb3k]

Got 'em out. We managed to mushroom the passenger side tie rod end, and accidentally pop out the axle boot and one of the axle bearings... so I'm riding without one tie rod until tomorrow 


The ride height is pretty sick though, it dropped it perfectly (pics tomorrow)

[warlord]

Wow. For all the hassles you went thru I hope the ride and handling is worth it.